Day 3 All the way today

[scott_lanier]

Day 3

Well the adventures of flying to Alaska come to an end today. Kind of a sad
day but also a happy one. I'll miss my little airplane that could for the next 4
months as we have spent alot of time together in the last two months. For
those keeping track this trip exactly 17 flight hours. 21.9 hours Ohio to
Whidbey and a total of 61 hours in my flying pepsi can. Whoo hoo we're
starting to work well together finally. That's alot of seat time for two months.

Today I flew from Whitehorse to northway ak for customs. Pretty uneventful
after he asked why I was in Alaska. When I told him my new job he said
everything was good and sent me on my way. A quick visit to flight services
for a weather brief and filing a flight plan and I was on my way. But then I
had to wait. Yes there was a bear on the runway so let him do his thing.
After the bear decided to go back to the woods I took off for Tok and
gulkana ak. Pretty cool flight through the mountains following the highway. I
was quickly met on the other side by 25 mph head winds. I finally reached
gulkana for fuel. But first I had to master a high wind landing. A quick wind
check said 28mph gusting to 38mph. Fun stuff. I bounced the plane down the
runway about eight times and then said screw this and just stalled the plane
and finally got it down and stopped. The guy on the radio said nice job you
kept the shiny side up so it must have been a good landing. I agree. After
fuel and a quick soda I got another wx brief and filed to birchwood.

Took off in high wind gulkana and headed southwest. Had a huge headwind
again but it was quartering. Some how I figured out if I held right rudder into
it I could sail the plane like a tacking dial boat and it worked. I managed to
turn it into a tailwind and was getting a 25 mph push. Whoo hoo that will help
the mpg. I made it to sheep mountain and cleared the pass then through a
beutiful canyon that had a glacier in it. Awesome pictures. Down the river I
go to Palmer. Didn't stop there cause only 20 minutes to go to get to
birchwood. My final destination and my temporary home for the rebel. Not one
rain drop the entire trip. Then final approach to birchwood it starts dumping
buckets. To late to turn back I'm done. I squeaked a perfect landing for the
last one of the trip in the rain. Right after landing the field was socked in. I
taxied to my new tiedown spot and waited for the rain to let up. After abou
15 minutes I was able to get out and tie it down.

Now how to get all my crap 15 minutes down the highway to a hotel. Here's
how. Flag down the first truck you see and look despirate. Guess what it
worked. My new friend Brian drove me to the hotel and dropped my off.

So that's all I got. Hope you have enjoyed reading the alaska adventure as
much as I have had doing it.

But as anything fun it to must end. Phase one is complete, now a few days
off and the hard phase two of my Alaska adventure begins.



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